The EG Malherbe Library or Main Library serves the needs of staff and students in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Development Disciplines and Engineering.

The collection consists of more than 475 000 volumes of books, journals and other items in various formats, and a growing collection of electronic resources. Various special collections include collections of medieval manuscripts, South African government publications, early scientific and engineering books, an African studies collection focusing on local content, an important audio-visual collection supporting the teaching programmes, and a small collection of South African art works some of which were commissioned for the building, including ceramics, tapestries, pottery, paintings, woven materials and sculptures.

It was named the EG Malherbe Library in 1988 after the University's former principal, who guided the University College to full University status in 1949. There are also three branch libraries on the Howard College Campus which house resources for Architecture, Law and Music.